"Many improvements could be made. Very unpleasant..."

What I liked

New hospital. Some of the healthcare assistants were very lovely.

What could be improved

I delivered my son at UCLH in May 2010. I was induced and essentially my contractions went from 0 to 100 miles an hour in a very short amount of time. I was refused an epidural to cope with the continuous, excruciating pain that lasted for about 7 hours.

The midwives in the delivery suite could have been a lot more sensitive. For example,

- One midwife made negative comments about the fact that my partner and I were not married. It was absolutely none of her business that we were not married. I had also hired a private midwife to provide additional support during the pregnancy. When the extremely painful contractions started, this same UCH midwife commented words to the effect "didn't your posh/expensive/private midwife teach you breathing techniques".

- After delivering my son, the midwife who delivered my baby told me off for taking pads from a trolley in the delivery room. I only wanted to take them because I was bleeding heavily and needed them.

In addition;

- When I got to the second stage of labour and it was time to push my baby out I was alone in the delivery room.

- The postnatal ward was shambolic. For example, the whiteboard in the midwives/assistants area stated that I had been discharged, but in fact I hadn't been discharged, I was still in the bed. (We waited all day to be discharged).

- A number of women and their newborns are in a small area, so it is difficult to sleep and get much privacy. You would think that when you design a new hospital you would ensure it has more space.

Anything else?

Improvements need to be made in so many areas. Many changes required don't require a huge amount of funding. It costs nothing to be sensitive and kind.

I question whether women should be encouraged to write birth plans prior to giving birth. In my experience UCH took no notice of my birth plan - which essentially just said I wanted an epidural. You seem to give women unrealistic expectations.